Fourteen Saudi Arabian detainees sent home from Guantanamo

[JURIST] Fourteen more Saudi Arabian nationals being held at the US prison at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] were sent back to their home country Saturday, according to a statement [press release] by the US Department of Defense [official website]. The Pentagon indicated that a Combatant Status Review Tribunal [DOD backgrounder] had considered one of the men to no longer be an enemy combatant, while the other 13 were transferred according to a decision by an Administrative Review Board [DOD briefing]. Approximately 120 other terrorist suspects are on a list to either be transferred or released, according to the Defense Department, "subject to ongoing discussions between the United States and other nations."

DOD says that about 310 detainees have now been released from Guantanamo, leaving 450 still at the prison camp. News of the transfers follows intense international criticism of the US after three Guantanamo prisoners - including two Saudis - committed suicide [JURIST report] earlier this month, prompting Saudi Interior Ministry officials to renew calls for all Saudi prisoners to be released [JURIST report] and returned to Saudi Arabia to face charges. The US transferred another 15 Saudi detainees [JURIST report] to Saudi custody last month. Reuters has more.

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